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It is crucial to have tariff and quota-free trade between Ireland and Britain after Brexit, Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\nIt is crucial to have tariff and quota-free trade between Ireland and Britain after Brexit, Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach said there is an assurance that there will not be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and the all-island economy can continue to \u201cdevelop and thrive\u201d without any trade barriers between the north and south.<\/p>\n
He said the strong economic relationship that will exist between the UK and the EU will have to be maintained after Brexit.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin following a meeting of the British-Irish Council, he said: \u201cThere certainly won\u2019t be any checks on goods going from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. There will be no checks and no tariffs and no quotas. Businesses in Northern Ireland can be assured of that.<\/p>\n
Once that Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, we need to get down to business very quickly – February or March – to negotiate a free trade agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of negotiating a trade agreement before December 2020 \u2013 I think that is difficult but not impossible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should bear in mind it would be a new treaty \u2013 a treaty between the European Union and the United Kingdom around trade and other matters and that would have to be ratified \u2013 not just by the House of Commons but the other 27 European states,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though the deal might be agreed, we could run into issues around ratification,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said he will discuss Britain\u2019s Withdrawal Agreement when he meets new president-elect of the European Council Charles Michel in Dublin on Friday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce that Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, we need to get down to business very quickly \u2013 February or March \u2013 to negotiate a free trade agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we have a new trading relationship that is very similar to the current one then it is more like the status quo and will be quicker to negotiate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more Britain diverges from the current trading agreement and the current status quo then it is going to get longer to get done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing that I want to achieve for Irish businesses, farmers and exporters is tariff-free, quota-free trade with Great Britain and not just Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n